Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Fern Grotto Inn the right place for me?

Most importantly, note that we are not ideal for those who prioritize quiet and solitude. Though we are surrounded by privacy hedges (and hidden so well that sometimes even locals don’t know we’re here!), human noise is all around us —we are situated between a state park and a well-traveled main road.

Are you a resort? A bed & breakfast? Something else?

We are a vacation rental. Our business model is self-service, which means we have no office or on-site staff. We provide you with amenities to make you feel at home at our cottages, including cookware and dishes, as well as all linens and towels and on-site laundry facilities for keeping them fresh yourself. Then we leave you to your vacation!

We do not provide concierge services or daily room service, and there are no bars or restaurants on the property. However, our proprietor, Paul, is just a phone call away in case of an emergency.

What is the best way to make a reservation?

Click here. At this link, you’ll be able to view our different cottages and their availability. Simply pick your dates, fill in your personal/billing information and proceed with the reservation.

You can also call us at 808-821-9836 or email at info@ferngrottoinn.com and we will take care of it for you.

Lastly, you can make a reservation at Fern Grotto Inn using a third party booking site like Airbnb or HomeAway. However, these options will charge you, the guest, additional service fees of up to 12% of your total. We recommend booking via the Fern Grotto Inn website for no fees and the best possible deal.

What is the cancellation policy?

Because we are a small operation, we have what might appear to be a strict cancellation policy.

If notice is received within 90 days of arrival, we will not issue a refund—unless we are able to re-book, in which case we will refund the days we are able to re-book minus a $50 cancellation fee. (NOTE: Often, we are only able to re-book by offering a last-minute discount. If this is the case with your canceled reservation, we will only be able to refund the discounted amount).

If notice is received 90 days or more in advance of arrival, a full refund will be issued, minus a $50 cancellation fee. The cleaning fee will be refunded in any case; however, the transaction fee cannot be refunded.

We are travelers, too, and know that emergencies can and do occur (and there’s no such thing as a happy emergency). For this reason, we highly recommend Insure My Trip, which offers travel insurance to guard against emergencies that may require a cancellation. Thank you in advance for your understanding.

What is the minimum stay required to book at Fern Grotto Inn?

We have a 4-night minimum on most reservations. However, if there are nights available between reservations, we are able to lower the minimum to 2 or 3 nights. Use our booking calendar to check for availability.

How far are you from the Airport?

We are 5 miles from Kauai’s Lihue Airport. It’s a 15-minute ride and a cab costs <$25.

How far are you from the beach?

We are a block from Wailua Beach—just a 5-minute walk. Lydgate Park, which is better for swimming, is just a 15-minute walk.

Do you provide Beach Gear?

What about bikes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards?

Yes. We have 4 bicycles on-hand, 2 kayaks (one two-person and one three-person) and a pair of stand-up paddleboards. All are available free of charge for guests to use; we just ask that you take good care of these items so that our future guests can enjoy them, as well.

Is breakfast included at the cottages?

No, we do not serve breakfast. However, each of our cottages has kitchenettes or full kitchens with the capability to make coffee and other breakfast items.

Will my cottage have internet/Wi-Fi?

All of our cottages are equipped with free, wireless internet.

Do your cottages have A/C?

All of our cottages have A/C except for the Canal Cottages (A & B). But you may find that with open windows and vents, ocean breezes, and ceiling fans, A/C is not needed.

Do you have a phone in the cottages?

We do not, but there is a phone available on the premises for free calls to USA and Canada.

Do you have laundry facilities?

We have washer/dryer available at no charge. Detergent is included.

Is late checkout available?

Checkout for Fern Grotto Inn guests is at 11:00 AM. If circumstances allow and guests are not scheduled to arrive on your departure date, you can stay at the cottage until 3:00 PM at no extra charge.

If you wish to stay after 3PM—and let us know before your arrival on Kauai—we will charge 50% of your room rate and guarantee the room for you until your departure flight. This option is highly recommended if your flight departs after 8PM.

If you ask for a late checkout (post-3PM) after you have already arrived in Kauai, we may still be able to help with a $50 fee for our smaller houses and $100 for the Ohana House. However, even if you pay this fee, late checkout cannot be guaranteed.

How about early check-in?

Check-in is at 3:00 PM, though earlier arrivals may be possible. Please speak to us ahead of time—before arrival—to confirm whether early check-in is an option for you.

What is your address and phone number?

Do I need a car to get around?

It is possible to make do without a car using a combination of bicycles (which we provide) and public transportation. However, your mobility will be limited, as many gorgeous sites and activities are inaccessible except by car.For this reason, we highly recommend renting a car to get the best possible Kauai experience. You’ll also save on cab fare to and from the airport, which costs about $25 each way.

Can we book all the cottages for a large group gathering?

Unfortunately, we are not a good option for large get-togethers as there is no covered common area for the group to gather. Ohana House, although larger than any of the other cottages, can only comfortably hold 8 guests in the dining room. Because of this shortcoming and other issues, we do not encourage large-group bookings.

Will I see bugs?

Yes. Bugs are a fact of life on Kauai and in the tropics in general. Pest control services our property for bugs of all kinds every 60 days, which helps to keep them in check, but if you strongly dislike bugs, this might not be the place for you. Geckos are our friends; they eat other bugs. Arachnophobes: spiders do make the occasional visit, but if they’re around, they prefer to stay outdoors.

Will it rain during my stay?

Unfortunately, we aren’t (yet) able to predict the weather ourselves. It might not rain at all (unlikely)… or it can rain a little every day (likely)… or, in the worst case scenario, it can rain continuously every day for days (unlikely).

The good news is, tropical rain isn’t cold and won’t chill you, plus you can avoid it by driving 5 to 10 miles in the other direction. The northern part of the island gets the most rain, followed by the east (where Fern Grotto Inn is located), then the south, and then the west is the driest part of Kauai. We recommend keeping an extra shirt on-hand in case you get caught and Fern Grotto provides umbrellas, too.

How long should I stay on Kauai to see everything?

We have hosted thousands of guests over the last decade, and one of the comments we hear most often is: “I wish we wouldn’t have planned to ‘island hop’ so we could spend more time in Kauai!”

For that reason, we advise travelers to not split their time between different Hawaiian islands. Instead, we recommend spending at least 7 nights—ideally—on whichever island you most want to visit. Kauai has more than enough to keep you busy from dawn to dusk for a full week: hiking, kayaking, surfing, swimming, botanical gardens, zip lining, ATVs, boat tours, helicopter tours and more.

Keep in mind, though, that Kauai gets quiet after dark, with very little nightlife to be found.

What is one can’t-miss activity we have to try?

If you are fit, kayaking the Napali Coast (available May – September only). It’s a grueling 10-hour day and not for the faint of heart, but you will talk about it for years to come.

Do you have a license to operate a vacation rental?

We have been issued a permit by Kauai County to operate a vacation rental. Our permit number is TVNC-1070.

There were four of us staying in the Ohana House. We stayed for seven amazing nights. The house is charming, a nice change from the usual accomodations in a hotel. The thoughtful touches in the house were great. We all enjoyed the history of the beautiful property. The short walk to the beach was worth it. We all loved the house. It was difficult to leave and we are already talking of returning. Thank you so much.

Darlene M

My wife, son and I had a fantastic stay at Fern Grotto's Ohana house, it really has it all. We found the accommodations very comfortable, nicely located with a home from home feel plus. The people who own and manage the property were extremely helpful I would definitely stay here again. Its a quite and beautiful property, which has many amenities.

adriansaxton

Very spacious, clean, comfortable cottage. Has everything one would need for their stay. Beautiful grounds that are secluded from the hustle and bustle. Every need is addressed by the owner quickly and graciously. Would return in a heartbeat. It was a wonderful stay.

TomandCarol R

We stayed at the Garden Cottage and enjoyed the space and the amenities. Great sheets, bed, towels and almost everything we needed. Access to kayaks and bikes were great and the cottage has a great view of the river. Paul was great and very gracious. The location is a little close to the main highway and a busy road but if you close up at night and run the air conditioner you never hear the road or roosters!

kdctravels

I can't say enough good things about the owner, and the inn - what a gem! The rooms are all as clean and well-decorated as the photos show, and the grounds are beautiful. It is so well located, just a short walk to the beach or the boat launch for kayaking down the river. The owner was a complete sweetheart. I would return in a heartbeat.

Sofia M

The Fern Grotto was the perfect place to stay for our trip! If you like having all the accouterments of home - then this is the place! I've stayed in plenty of hotels and it's nice to simply have your own 'home-away-from-home' and not pay resort fees or tip people when you want something simple. The rates are very reasonable - and Paul was excellent at upfront communication!

Barry K

The location was great for what we wanted to do. I'm not sure if the east shore has as much going on as other areas, but for us it was great- we spent one day going north, one day south, one day west, etc. Kapaa seemed to be pretty centrally located for all that. Paul, the owner, is very friendly and provides coolers, beach chairs, snorkel gear, and more for you to borrow on your excursions.

lauren p

Fern Grotto Inn is an excellent choice for lodging on Kaua'i if you're looking for a place that is: quiet, clean. well equipped (functional kitchen for preparing breakfasts/lunches; DVD/TV; swim/snorkel gear, washer/dryer (free), bbq grills), well maintained, centrally located. The owners are very very nice and quite helpful. The price is comparable to hotels offering much less.

jon R

Paul the owner is great, very friendly and laid back. He's there if you need him, otherwise you have total privacy. He took my daughter and I around the property on a couple fruit picking trips and we tried lots of new things. He gave me great choices and directions for dining. We used the phone, the laundry machines, and the shared items like lawn chairs, boogie boards, etc. We just loved having a little house to call home and use as a base. The location is so central to the entire island.